Bird's Eye View
Hello Larries Community,
Welcome the December “Bird’s Eye View”! Each month we will:
Give you small snapshots of the great things that are happening here at SLC.
We may ask for a little help with some things to make our school community the most productive possible.
Our hope is you will read our newsletter each month, so we can continue to connect our great community with the students, staff, and programs that are here to help maximize our students’ futures.
A few updates and important educational dates:
Our Capital Project has received the final “OK” from SED, so we are now set to have bid documents available to contractors by January 13th.
Winter Concerts for MS/HS (Please come and support their hard work!)
December 10th 6:00 pm grades 7-12 Band and Chorus plus Chamber Choir
December 12th 6:00 pm grades 5&6 Band and Chorus plus Modern Band
A few shout outs and reminders:
Congratulations to all those that have been recognized, in this December issue, for the outstanding work you are doing.
Thanks to all the parents/guardians that attended our Parent Teacher conferences in November. If you were unable to attend, but feel a meeting would be beneficial, please contact your building's counselors and secretaries to lead you in the right direction.
Winter sports are upon us and our first games began last week. Please get out and support our local teams as often as you can.
It is that time of year when we are again asking for anyone wishing to substitute in our district (teachers, aides, cafeteria staff, cleaners) to please reach out to 315-389-5131 extension 29108 for more information.
We Continue to Need Your Help with Attendance:
Dear Middle and High School Parents,
We are really excited that we have made it to December. We are looking forward to winter concerts and sports, and we hope to see some of you at these events.
It was nice to see many parents at our conference night, and we want to continue to ask that if you have concerns about your child, that you contact their teacher or counselor. If teachers requested a conference and you were unable to attend, please contact those teachers to discuss your child.
On the same night as conferences, we had the ability to honor our new and existing Junior High Honor Society members with our induction ceremony. Earlier in November, we also honored our new members for Senior High Honor Society and Tri-M. Congratulations to our new inductees and continuing members! We are proud of the achievements of our students who are excelling academically and serving as positive role models for others.
Middle school students will have their annual Erin’s Law assembly in January. In August 2019, New York State became the 37th state to sign Erin’s Law into legislation. New York State’s law, (Chapter 187 of the Laws of 2019) - known as Erin's Law - requires public schools to teach child sexual abuse and exploitation prevention classes to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Erin's Law is named for Erin Merryn, an abuse survivor and activist against child sexual abuse who has advocated for similar laws nationwide for over a decade. Erin’s Law is intended to help children, teachers, and parents in New York State schools identify sexual abuse, and to provide awareness, assistance, referral, or resource information for children and families who are victims of child sexual abuse. For more information regarding Erin’s Law visit https://www.erinslaw.org. Assemblies will be split between grades 5-6 and 7-8. If you have any concerns or questions about your child attending this assembly, please contact their counselor.
High School Mid-Terms:
We hope that this message finds you well. We wanted to reach out as a high school staff to let you know about some academic upcoming dates and times that you should be aware of for your planning purposes.
On Tuesday, January 14th and Wednesday, January 15th we will administer mid-term exams for all students in the high school. From a high school building perspective, the purpose of administering mid-term exams is to assess how our students are progressing with the curriculum and learning standards from the first half of the school year and to inform us of what information we need to emphasize, reteach or spiral into future lessons. From a student perspective, we have noticed a decline in academic stamina when it comes to higher stakes testing, and how our students can independently work through a longer exam. We would like to give our students practice with learning how to take these tests without breaks and short prompts from teachers.
The exams will be conducted during the regular school day. However, we will be adjusting our schedule to double periods (approximately 82 minutes) on these dates. For those students in grades 10, 11, and 12, they will notice that this is how our final exams are offered every June. For students in grade 9, they had experience with this double period testing from 8th grade last year. The exams will be weighted higher in the teacher’s standards-based grading system and teachers will reach out to students in their classes to let them know “how much this exam counts.”
No make up dates will be offered to students for these exams, thus, it is important that your family plans ahead to the greatest degree possible. We understand that sickness happens. Students who miss exams will be required to show proof of absence from a medical professional to retake and make-up exams at a later date.
If you have any questions on specific classes, please reach out to the teacher of that course. Any additional questions or concerns can be directed to the High School Counseling Office.
Middle School Mid-Terms:
All middle school classes will be administering mid-terms for students on our normal bell schedule during the week of January 13th. Students should be preparing for these exams/projects ahead of time, and will be expected to do some preparation on their own. Like the high school, the purpose of administering mid-term exams is to assess how our students are progressing with the curriculum and learning standards from the first half of the school year, and to inform us of what information we need to emphasize, reteach or spiral into future lessons.
If you have any questions on specific classes, please reach out to the teacher of that course. Any additional questions or concerns can be directed to the Middle School Counseling Office.
We hope you have a wonderful December, and have the opportunity to spend time with family and friends over the holidays.
Mrs. LaBarge, MS Principal
Mrs. Zender, HS Principal
Happy December, Larries!
As we head into the holiday season, here are some important updates and tips from your school counselors:
🎓 Seniors
College Deadlines: Double-check your college application deadlines! Many regular decision deadlines are in early January, so use the break to finalize applications, essays, and submit any necessary materials.
Scholarships: Mrs. Jenkinson is updating the scholarship binder as they come in. Stop by and check it out! Let us know if you have any questions or need help applying.
FAFSA: If you haven’t already, complete your FAFSA for financial aid. Parents may need to gather tax information from 2023.
FAFSA Night: Join us on Thursday, January 9th, from 5-7 PM in the high school library for hands-on assistance with completing the FAFSA. Bring your questions, and we’ll help guide you through the process!
📚 Academic Check-In
The semester is wrapping up soon—stay on top of your grades! Use after-school help sessions, learning labs, or study groups if you need support before exams.
If you’re struggling, reach out! We’re here to help with organization tips, test-taking strategies, or just a friendly chat.
🌟 Wellness Tips
Take care of yourself during this busy season. Balance schoolwork with relaxation, sleep, and time with friends and family.
If the holidays are stressful for you, don’t hesitate to stop by the counseling office. We can talk through challenges and connect you with resources.
💬 Stay in Touch
- The counseling office is open and here to help. Stop by, send an email, or call us with any questions or concerns.
Enjoy the holiday with your friends & family, and let’s finish 2024 strong!
Miss Bethel & Ms. Ruddy
SLC's Senior and Junior High Band and Chorus will be performing their Winter Concert on Tuesday, December 10th at 6:00 pm in the high school auditorium.
We invite you to join us for a night full of exciting and festive music! The call time for performers is 5:30 pm, and the auditorium doors will open at that time.
Congratulations goes out to Mia Snyder who was selected to take part in the North Country Art Teachers Association Scholars program this year. Mia and several other young artists from surrounding schools attended workshops at the Creative Spirit Art Center in Potsdam. They were able to participate in working with clay at the Third Wheel Pottery Studio, talk to a professional artist regarding originality in their work, and take part in a figure drawing class. Mia will take part in another workshop in the spring and hold a show of her work in May.
Here you can see Mia working on her figure drawing.
The Fall season ended with Jennah Strawser and Sonja Wultsch-Fuller participating in Swim States in Webster, NY on Nov 22nd. Jennah came in 33rd in the 200 Free and Sonja came in 43rd in the 50 Free. Congratulations to the girls for making it to states!
Congratulations to Girls Varsity Soccer, Girls Varsity Swim, and Boys Varsity Soccer on being named New York State Scholar Athlete teams for the Fall Season!
The winter season is fully underway with scrimmages happening over Thanksgiving break. The regular season schedule is now upon us. Get out and watch a game this season! You can follow along, as always, by checking out Sections710.org and the rSchoolToday App for your phone. You can be notified of all changes for any team you want by signing up from the website first.
A reminder that the 2nd Annual Lalonde Family Initiative Scholarship applications are in the Guidance office right now. Up to $40,000 will be awarded to worthy students early next year. Remind your senior athlete planning on college to fill one out today!
Hello Middle School Families,
We hope you're doing well! Below are a few updates from the Middle School Counseling Department that we'd like to share with you.
Supporting Students and Their Academics:
7th Grade Academic Meetings: We will begin meeting with 7th-grade students soon for their annual academic meeting. If you would like to join your child’s meeting, please contact their counselor.
Term 2 Progress Reminder: Term 2 progress reports close on Friday, December 13th. Please check in with your child about their assignments, makeup work, and any zeros in their grades.
8th Grade Academic Meetings: We are finishing up 8th-grade academic meetings. If you have questions or need clarification, please reach out to your child’s counselor.
Sweetheart and Heroes: Pat from Sweetheart and Heroes will be coming back to SLC on December 12-13th to work with our 6th and 8th graders.
Mrs. Grant’s Advisory and Health Classes: Mr. Niles and Mrs. Roldan will visit advisory and health classes to teach lessons. In 5th grade advisory, we'll discuss managing stress, especially grief and coping during the holidays. In 7th grade health, we will focus on building healthy relationships with friends and classmates.
Supporting Students Through Grief:
We want to thank the entire SLC community for your kindness and support following the loss of one of our students. If your child is struggling or needs someone to talk to, please encourage them to reach out to their counselor. We are here to help.
Holiday Season Tips for Families:
The holiday season can feel busy and even a little overwhelming. Below are some tips to help your middle schooler stay happy and on track during this festive time.
- Stay Organized During the Holiday Hustle: Help your child keep track of homework, projects, and school events by writing down due dates in their agenda or planner. Staying organized will help them balance school responsibilities with holiday fun!
- Keep Healthy Habits: Make sure your child is getting enough rest, bundling up for the chilly weather, and keeping screen time (like social media) in check. Staying healthy will help them have more energy and focus for both school and holiday activities.
- Give the Gift of Kindness: Talk with your child about how little acts of kindness can brighten someone’s day. Whether it’s helping a classmate, holding the door for a teacher, or saying “thank you,” kindness can make a big difference—especially during a time that’s tough for some people.
- Manage Holiday Stress: It’s important to find time to relax. Encourage your child to enjoy calming activities like reading, listening to their favorite music, drawing, or spending time with family. Taking breaks helps keep the holidays fun instead of stressful!
We wish all our students and families a healthy, happy holiday season. As always, feel free to reach out to the counseling office with any questions or concerns. 🙂
All the best,
Mr. Niles nniles@bfcsd.org (Students A-K)
Mrs. Roldan rroldan@bfcsd.org (Students L-Z)
Hello SLC Families,
The first quarter has come to an end and we'd like to thank all those who joined us (in person, virtually, or over the phone) for parent-teacher conferences. We value the relationships we have with our SLC families and appreciate that you also recognize the importance of this relationship in your child's academic and personal growth.
With the end of the first quarter, we also celebrated our Character Ed Awards. Congratulations to all of our individual award winners and the first recipients of our two class awards:
- The Silver Spoon Award - Mrs. Stone's Fourth Grade Class
- The Golden Trashcan Award - Mrs. Belt's Second Grade Class
As the temperatures are getting colder, please be sure your child is properly dressed for the weather. In the winter, boots are always a good idea, but they should also bring their sneakers to school to wear inside the building and for PE class. If you have a need for appropriate winter wear, please reach out and we may be able to help.
Friday, December 20th will be our last day of school before our holiday break. School will resume on Thursday, January 2nd, and it will be a Day 6.
The holiday season is upon us and we will be into the new year before we know it! I wish all of our SLC families all the best this holiday season!
Respectfully,
Mrs. Colterman
Hello Larries Families!
November was the perfect time to focus on gratitude, our character trait for the month. Practicing gratitude helped children build strong relationships and develop a positive mindset. At school, we read The Gratitude Jar, and encouraged students to share what they were thankful for. You can try this at home with a family gratitude jar—write down and share one thing you are grateful for each day!
With colder, darker days ahead many children may spend more time indoors, which can bring challenges like restlessness, increased screen time, or big feelings. Here are some tips to navigate this season:
Talk about feelings. Ask your child how they’re doing and listen with care.
Stay active. Indoor dance parties or outdoor walks can improve their mood.
Limit screen time. Set clear boundaries and encourage other activities like crafts or family games.
Thank you for supporting your child’s social and emotional growth.
Mrs. McFarland and Ms. White
Maya, our friendly and gentle therapy dog, recently made a special visit to the elementary school to spend time with the 5th-grade students. The students were thrilled to meet her and had the opportunity to learn about the important role therapy dogs play in schools. Maya brought plenty of smiles, calming energy, and even inspired a few budding dog lovers in the classroom!
We’re excited to see the positive impact Maya is already making and look forward to more opportunities for her to connect with our students. Keep an eye out for Maya in the hallways or during special events—she’s always ready to brighten someone’s day! 🐾
On November 1, 2024, our SLC houses came together for another exciting day of team building, problem-solving, and relationship strengthening. Students rotated through different activities around the school, including name games, group challenges, and building spaghetti marshmallow towers in small groups. These hands-on experiences were designed to foster collaboration and creativity.
Building on last month’s activities, we introduced Teamwork Norms—guiding principles to help students work better together. These norms encourage positive behaviors and teamwork skills that we aim to see throughout the school day:
Everyone is good at something.
No one is good at everything.
No one alone is as smart as everyone together.
You have the right to ask anyone for help.
You have the duty to help anyone in your group who asks.
Help others, but don’t do the work for them.
These norms remind students that teamwork is about supporting one another, sharing strengths, and working collaboratively toward shared goals. We are excited to see these values take root as students grow as individuals and as part of their teams!
The Larries Spotlight Award was created to recognize Elementary Staff who demonstrate a specific trait each quarter! This award is voted upon by peers who want to give a shout out to one of their colleagues for doing an outstanding job.
Casey McFarland was the Larries Spotlight Award winner for First Quarter! This quarter’s trait was Open-Mindedness and Mrs. McFarland received the award from her peers based on her need to always come into any situation with an open-mind. She gives everyone a fresh start and makes the school a better place to be!
Thank you, Mrs. McFarland, for always having an open-mind and being there when we need you!
This month, we are excited to offer a free cybersecurity coloring book from Colorado Communications, specifically designed for our younger students. The coloring book features Gizmo, the internet guard dog, who will guide students through essential cyber safety rules in a fun and engaging way.
You can access the coloring book at the following link: Gizmo the Internet Guard Dog Coloring Book. This resource allows students to learn about important cybersecurity principles while enjoying coloring activities, making it an ideal way to introduce these concepts at an appropriate level for them.
We encourage you to share this valuable resource with your students!
As always, if you have any questions, you can contact me via email at kwelsh@bfcdsd.org, or call the technology department at (315) 389-5131 ext. 29250.
Contact Information
Email: crose@bfcsd.org
Website: www.bfcsd.org
Location: 1039 State Highway 11C, Brasher Falls, NY 13613
Phone: 315-389-5131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrasherFallsCSD